Almost five years ago, around the time my son was born, I started writing a book called Zella’s Money Choices.
And then I got stuck.
I knew what I wanted the book to do.
I wanted to tell a story that could help young people think differently about money, choices, work, and what might be possible for their lives.
But I couldn’t find the story.
I wrote.
Rewrote.
Changed directions.
Eventually, I thought I had it.
Then an editor read it and told me the story was too unrealistic.
And somewhere around there, I stopped.
The book sat unfinished.
For years.
Then this year, I started thinking about it differently
It wasn’t just the unfinished manuscript that bothered me.
I want to finish what I start.
And even more than that:
I want my kids to see me finish what I start.
I don’t want them to grow up only hearing me tell them to keep going when something is difficult.
I want them to have watched me do it.
So I went back to Zella.
I rewrote the story.
Changed things.
Questioned things.
Got stuck again.
Kept going.
And finally, I finished it.
Here’s the part I didn’t expect:
I think Zella’s Money Choices may be the best book I’ve written.
The book that almost stayed unfinished became the one I’m most proud of.
And that has stayed with me.
The other pattern I’m changing
I’ve spent nearly 20 years working in financial education.
I’ve had thousands of conversations with people trying to understand money, make better decisions, take care of their families, and build something better for themselves.
Somewhere along the way, I started writing books too.
There are four now.
And until recently, I’ve barely told anyone about them.
That’s a pattern I’m trying to change too.
I’ve always been much more comfortable building the thing than talking about the thing.
But I’m starting to realize that if you create something you believe could help someone, finishing it isn’t the whole job.
You have to be willing to share it.
So that’s part of what The Corner Table is going to be about.
I’ll share what I’m building.
What I’m learning.
Ideas about money and business.
Things I’m trying.
Things that work.
Probably some things that don’t.
And stories like this one.
Because I’m guessing I’m not the only person with something unfinished somewhere.
Maybe it’s a book.
A business.
An idea.
A project.
A conversation you’ve been putting off.
Something you once cared enough about to begin.
Maybe you don’t need another new idea right now.
Maybe there’s an old one worth going back for.
I’m really glad I went back for mine.
I hope Zella’s story eventually encourages and empowers a lot of young people.
But before anyone else ever reads it, finishing it already gave me something I needed.
Finish what you start.
Especially when the people you love are watching.
Welcome to The Corner Table.
— Tony
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